Direct one-step synthesis of CF3-I

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of trifluoromethyl iodide. The process includes the step of: contacting in a reactor a compound represented by the formula: CF 3 —W and a compound represented by the formula: Z-I wherein W is selected from CF 3 , hydrogen and bromine; Z is selected from hydrogen, iodine and chlorine. The step of contacting is carried out, optionally in the presence of a catalyst and further optionally in the presence of air, at a temperature, pressure and for a length of time sufficient to produce the trifluoromethyl iodide.

1. A process for the preparation of trifluoromethyl iodide, comprising the step of:
 contacting in a reactor a compound represented by the formula:
   CF 3 —W 
 
 and a compound represented by the formula:
   Z-I 
 
 wherein W is selected from the group consisting of CF 3 , hydrogen and bromine; Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and chlorine; and wherein said step of contacting is carried out, optionally in the presence of a catalyst and further optionally in the presence of air, at a temperature, pressure and for a length of time sufficient to produce said trifluoromethyl iodide. 
 
     
     
       2. The process of  claim 1 , wherein W is bromine and Z is hydrogen. 
     
     
       3. The process of  claim 1 , wherein W is bromine and Z is chlorine. 
     
     
       4. The process of  claim 1 , wherein W is hydrogen and Z is hydrogen. 
     
     
       5. The process of  claim 1 , wherein W is hydrogen and Z is chlorine. 
     
     
       6. A process for the preparation of trifluoromethyl iodide, comprising the step of:
 contacting in a reactor a compound represented by the formula:
   CF 3 —W 
 
 and a compound represented by the formula:
   Z-I 
 
 wherein W is CF 3  and Z is iodine; and wherein said step of contacting is carried out, optionally in the presence of a catalyst and further optionally in the presence of air, at a temperature, pressure and for a length of time sufficient to produce said trifluoromethyl iodide. 
 
     
     
       7. The process of  claim 1 , wherein W is CF 3  and Z is hydrogen. 
     
     
       8. The process of  claim 1 , wherein said step of contacting is carried out at a temperature from about 20° C. to about 650° C. 
     
     
       9. The process of  claim 1 , wherein said step of contacting is carried out at a pressure from about 1 atm to about 100 atm. 
     
     
       10. The process of  claim 1 , wherein said step of contacting is carried out for a length of time from about 0.01 sec to about 300 hours. 
     
     
       11. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the process is a batch process. 
     
     
       12. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the process is a continuous process. 
     
     
       13. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the reactor further comprises a diluent selected from the group consisting or a gas, a solvent and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       14. The process of  claim 13 , wherein said gas is selected from the group consisting of: nitrogen, helium, argon and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       15. The process of  claim 13 , wherein said solvent is a liquid fluorocarbon. 
     
     
       16. The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 passing the trifluoromethyl iodide through a scrubber containing an aqueous alkali solution. 
 
     
     
       17. The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 passing the trifluoromethyl iodide through a scrubber containing a drying agent. 
 
     
     
       18. The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 cooling at a temperature below the boiling temperature of the trifluoromethyl iodide to condense. 
 
     
     
       19. The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 isolating the trifluoromethyl iodide from the reaction mixture in substantially pure form. 
 
     
     
       20. The process of  claim 1 , wherein at least 10 wt % of the reactants are converted to trifluoromethyl iodide. 
     
     
       21. The process of  claim 1 , wherein at least 80 wt % of the reactants are converted to trifluoromethyl iodide. 
     
     
       22. The process of  claim 1 , wherein at least 95 wt % of the reactants are converted to trifluoromethyl iodide. 
     
     
       23. A process for the preparation of trifluoromethyl iodide, comprising the step of:
 contacting in a reactor a compound represented by the formula:
   CF 3 —W 
 
 and a compound represented by the formula:
   Z-I 
 
 wherein W is hydrogen; Z is iodine; and wherein said step of contacting is carried out in the absence of a catalyst and absence of air, at a temperature, pressure and for a length of time sufficient to produce said trifluoromethyl iodide. 
 
     
     
       24. A process for the preparation of trifluoromethyl iodide, comprising the step of:
 contacting in a reactor a compound represented by the formula:
   CF 3 —W 
 
 and a compound represented by the formula:
   Z-I 
 
 wherein W Is hydrogen; Z is iodine; and wherein said stop of contacting is carried out in the presence of one or more catalysts selected from the group consisting of iodide, nitrate, oxide, bromide, carbonate, chloride, acetate, acetylacetonate salts of Cu (II), Hg (II), Pt (II), Pd (II), Co (III), Mn (III), Rh (III), Ni (II), V (IV), TI (III), and Ge (III), and at a temperature, pressure and for a length of time sufficient to produce said trifluoromethyl iodide. 
 
     
     
       25. A process for the preparation of trifluoromethyl iodide, comprising the step of:
 contacting in a reactor a compound represented by the formula:
   CF 3 —W 
 
 and a compound represented by the formula:
   Z-I 
 
 wherein W is bromine; Z is iodine; and wherein said step of contacting is carried out in the absence of a catalyst and in the presence or absence of air, at a temperature, pressure and for a length of time sufficient to produce said trifluoromethyl iodide. 
 
     
     
       26. A process for the preparation of trifluoromethyl iodide, comprising the step of
 contacting in a reactor a compound represented by the formula:
   CF 3 —W 
 
 and a compound represented by the formula:
   Z-I 
 
 wherein W is bromine; Z is iodine; and wherein said step of contacting is carried out in the presence of one or more catalysts selected from the group consisting of iodide, nitrate, oxide, bromide, carbonate, chloride, acetate, acetylacetonate salts of Cu (II), Hg (II), Pt (II), Pd (II), Co (III), Mn (III), Rh (III), Ni (II), V (IV), TI (III), and Ge (III), and at a temperature, pressure and for a length of time sufficient to produce said trifluoromethyl iodide.